A big $9.3 million sale of an immaculate brand-new property in Coatesville is a good sign for the upper echelon of the lifestyle market – but Bayleys agent Ailsa McArthur says while buyers are there she needs more high-end properties to list.
McArthur sold the five-bedroom home on 8350sqm of land in June for substantially over the $5.1m CV, saying the home was architecturally-designed and very high spec.
The sale price was one of the highest paid in Coatesville – in the north-west rural fringe of Auckland – for some time.
The listing copy described park-like privacy and supreme specifications setting a superior standard for lifestyle luxury in the heart of Coatesville.
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“Freshly completed by national award-winning Glover Homes and designed by renowned Leuschke Architects, this property boasts a striking exterior complemented by Paradise Valley schist and cedar panels.
“Every aspect of presentation and practicality has been meticulously considered, featuring Maungaturoto chip concrete flooring, spectacular ECC lighting, zoned central air conditioning, brushed nickel bathroom ware and a state-of-the-art Control Four system for ultra-convenient remote access.”
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McArthur told OneRoof the vendors had spent two or three years building the home but life took another turn and they did not live in it.
Part of the attraction for buyers was that the land had been subdivided from a garden estate and featured mature oak trees.
“Often when you have a new build on a piece of land you have just a paddock and you have to do all the planting, so it had some stunning specimen trees.
“They were very careful about positioning the house in a way that also enhanced the trees because they wanted to keep those and they put in lovely evening lighting to enhance that.”
The five-bedroom luxury home at Coatesville-Riverhead Highway is of very high spec. Photo / Supplied
What also set the property apart was the ability to walk to the local cafe in Coatesville without crossing a road – in the lifestyle arena not having to drive to get to the local amenities was a big plus.
Also appealing was the design of the home featuring great flow.
“There were decks and doors and flow from the inside out seamlessly from all angles of the house. That’s all down to the architect understanding the land and the type of living.”
McArthur said there had been regular viewings and her main problem was not having enough listings: “I need more. The buyers are there, I just don’t have the properties.”
In Matakana, to the northern reaches of Auckland, the new motorway has shaved the travel time and helped open the area up, said James Doole, of Barfoot & Thompson.
He sold a trophy home on Oak River Drive for $7.168m in March – and those who missed out on the single level home with pool can look over the road because he has just listed a neighbouring lodge, at 73 Oak River Drive.
A four-bedroom lodge on Oak River Drive, in Matakana, fetched just over $7m in March this year. Photo / Supplied
The trophy home was designed by architect Peter Sargisson. Photo / Supplied
Dubbed “magic in Matakana – pool, spa and tennis court”, the new listing is only minutes from Matakana Village and is set on over 1.5 hectares of “lush, park-like grounds” with gardens and a citrus orchard.
Doole is expecting strong interest, which he had with his previous listing.
The previous listing was advertised as being set on over 2ha of landscaped gardens with a generous swimming pool and spa pool and a versatile barn separate from the home that could be used as office, yoga studio, leased space or extra accommodation.
The New Zealand Herald wrote about it when it was marketed back in 2016, saying it was Peter Sargisson-designed and that all the rooms opened to the lawns.
The brief had been for a lodge feel and the property sold back then for $3.6m.
Doole told OneRoof there had been strong interest from people wanting a “beautiful, quintessential Matakana home” with land and a nice pool.
He also sells in the city and said demand for lifestyle properties in the wider Matakana area was less seasonal with people looking for a full lifestyle change.
“There’s a definite shift out of Auckland up there because it’s basically another suburb of Auckland.
A neighbouring lodge at 73 Oak River Drive is on the market for sale. Photo / Supplied
“It's 45 minutes to Oak River Drive from the bridge so you’re not far. The new road up there is second to none the way it’s been built and created and how beautiful and fast it is – they’ve done a great job and it’s just changed the way people view Matakana, Omaha, Point Wells, Ti point, Tawharanui.”
Down in Dairy Flat, a French-style mansion is attracting a lot of interest. On 15 acres, 770 Blackbridge Road is a little different as it is modelled on a French chateau.
Agent Simone du Bernard, of Harcourts, said the solid concrete house, which goes to auction on September 26, was unusual but lovely and perfect for someone with horses as there were stables.
“The story goes a Kiwi couple went to France and they fell in love with all the buildings and decided to build this home just like in France.”
A New Zealand Herald article from when the house went to market in 2010 described the entranceway as a portal to another country.
“Turn off the deserted rural road, pass through the wrought iron gates, cruise down the tree-lined driveway and pop out in Brittany.”
The property had a Renaissance-inspired mural on the domed ceiling and a tower with a marble floor retrieved from Auckland’s old Majestic Theatre,” the Herald story said.
“The couple encircled the tower with a 60sqm ballroom – with grand brick fireplace and five sets of French doors heading out on to a large tiled north-facing terrace – an elegant study and formal dining room, and a country-style kitchen and casual dining area.
Those wanting a flavour of France, can check out this chateau-style mansion for sale at 770 Blackbridge Road, in Dairy Flat. Photo / Supplied
The property boasts 17th century European-style decor. Photo / Supplied
“On the roof they installed gargoyles they’d brought back from France. They called it Chateau Pont-Noir [Blackbridge Castle].”
Du Bernard told OneRoof when you get there you feel like you are in another world.
“You don’t feel like you’re in New Zealand, I mean, with the turrets going up and the paintings on the ceiling.
“The kitchen and the dining room is massive and the lounge is huge. You’ve got your space and there’s lots of doors.”
She is getting calls from people loving the look of the property, telling her, “it’s magical and whimsical and they would love to live there”.
Du Bernard said after a short lull in July the lifestyle market was picking up again with houses starting to sell for prices vendors originally wanted six or nine months ago.
“I think lifestyle, you get so much more for your money. You can go and buy a Millwater house for $2m but you can come to lifestyle and have a five-acre block for the kids to run around on and it’s the same price and you’ve got a bigger house, so you get more for your money in the country than you do in residential.”
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